Grubbster Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 My Impreza engine started making a mechanical knocking noise recently - I took it to a garage for a listen and oil & filter change and they suggest the noise coule be coming from the big-ends. I assume this is going to be a pretty major job for a specialist? I don't have the time or inclination to do it myself but is it worth it on a £3k motor? I'll get it checked out properly in the week, fingers crossed it isn't as bad as I am expecting it to be 😔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Grubbster, this was my biggest fear of ownership (when I had a wrx ppp) and the general consensus on sidc was that it was more economical to have a new short engine as it's quite a complex unit to strip. Doesn't sound good! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 ☹️ ☹️ ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Oh dear. Look at the plus side if you do have it rebuilt you have a few things done to it at the same time and it will be then good for a lot more miles and therefore a lot more fun. How many has it done btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 It is an 03 WRX PPP and has done 95k with a fully stamped up book, not sure why it would have suddenly gone wrong though - it doesn't use much oil and I am quite careful when it is cold. Hopefully it is something else, but I am fearing the worst. I didn't pay much for it and I'm planning to sell it on again soon (to get a different cheapie for the summer) - but I'll need it fixed before I can do that. Edited by - Grubbster on 26 Feb 2011 20:56:15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McCulloch Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Grubbster I don't know if knowledge has move on with this. I ran a classic impreza turbo for six years from new. There was a lot of talk then on sidc about this. It nearly always seemed to be No.3 big end which went - there was a theory that that cylinderran leaner and was more susceptible to detonation. The other common factor seemed to be that a lot of these failures happened a short time after an oil change - which led to another theory about dealers not priming the oil system by cranking with the plugs out to minimise load on the bearings before firing up the engine. When I sold mine at 65k miles in 2006 nobody had found the cause. Good luck Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter G Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Grubbster, might not be any good, but I've got a Legacy turbo engine sat on my garage floor recently taken out of my son's Subaru, quite a few miles (150k plus, can get the info for you) but last time it ran properly it was pulling like a train. (I'm in Bedfordshire) Peter G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 I have found two places reasonably locally that might be able to tale a look this week so I should know more soon. I've hired a 5 year old diesel Fiesta to go to work in - what a difference 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Sorry to hear about the problem. Be interested to hear how you get on. My 2001 WRX has just turned 97k miles! It's not PPP and (as an aside) I reckon it could do with a bit more oomph! Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Quoting Gridgway: Sorry to hear about the problem. Be interested to hear how you get on. My 2001 WRX has just turned 97k miles! It's not PPP and (as an aside) I reckon it could do with a bit more oomph! Graham I can help point you in the right direction if you want more oomph. I think the PPP was prone to problems whereas the basic is less susceptible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Looks handy Toby, what are the mods? Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 New uprated fuel pump from Wallbro. I kept the cat but had a New 2 1/2" stainless centre and tail pipe from Hayward and Scott(MoT friendly). Pipercross air filter and a remap from Jolly Green Monster. Total cost around £1250. I also had uprated discs with yellow stuff pads from EBC and braided hoses fitted for around £600. If I was running on super unleaded it would give out extra 12-15bhp but then the map would be fixed to super unleaded and I couldn't run on unleaded. I can run super unleaded and that would probably give me another 5 bhp without further remapping if I want. The car is smoother to drive and better due to the torque coming in a lot earlier. Still get around 24/5 mpg driving it briskly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Quoting TobyCoulson: Still get around 24/5 mpg driving it briskly. Just to say that with the new exhaust it sounds absolutely lovely with that classic deep throated burble the rallycars had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Just been looking at the JGM site. Are they mobile? If so how do they remap? I've got the H&S rear sections, so would just need the fuel pump and air filter before the remap. Did your car feel much sharper after the job. I just seem to wait for ever for stuff to happen in mine! Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Edited by - TobyCoulson on 2 Mar 2011 11:08:26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Quoting TobyCoulson: Graham the car felt crisper all round. JGM normally do their mapping at Surrey rolling road. Alternatively there is a cheaper option from Racedynamix. Obviously the website is having a rebuild but from what I remember of it he would come to you and then you drive the car and he remaps as you drive. I think he's based in Cambridgeshire and prices start from around £350 if my memory serves me correct. On Surrey Scoobies he got some positive feedback. Give him a call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 If it's a big end it will be much more apparent upon startup as a heavy clatter and then it will quieten down as the oil circulates and keeps the moving parts separate. For a £3k car a full rebuild seems expensive unless you plan to keep it for another couple of years. If it's a known problem it may be worth asking around for a cheap fix - I know you aren't supposed to drop in a new bearing shell (or a set) on a boxer but on inline engines it's (?) possible without a full strip and it might get you a fix for the rest of the time you have the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Not a scooby expert, but I would guess most boxers are similar... Boxers are not easy to work on internally - you'll need to get the engine out and split it in half to get at the crank, as it's held by the two halves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Prob true unfortunately. I did once see a Scooby block stripped down, there isn't much there. Inlines do allow you to drop the sump, but I doubt it on a boxer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McCulloch Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 You can drop the sump and from memory I think I remember seeing that you can then get the rods and pistons out once you've lifted the relevant head. The problem is you then have to split the block to get the crank out if there's any damage to the crank - which there will be if it's spun the big end bearing....... There was a feature on stripping and rebuilding the impreza engine in, I think, Car Mechanics mag - several years ago, but you might still be able to get hold of a back issue. I don't recollect it being that difficult from reading it - it's just a bit different. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted March 3, 2011 Author Share Posted March 3, 2011 Update from the garage - based on the noise it is making it is almost certainly big ends but possibly caught early enough to not need a crank (wait and see when it is in bits). So it is engine out, strip and rebuild with new big ends then refit Looking at about £1500 best case, more if it needs a crank. Clutch is also on the way out so I need to allow a little for this as well. I'll update again when the engine is in bits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Presumably the clutch is relatively cheap by comparison (last one I did was £150 for the parts - but it wasn't a Scooby). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Quoting charlie_pank: Presumably the clutch is relatively cheap by comparison (last one I did was £150 for the parts - but it wasn't a Scooby). It does depend on what sort of clutch he goes for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Just a standard clutch - expecting £100 - £!50. Fitting won't be a problem while the engine is out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 ☹️Went to see how they are getting on today (it went in 8 days ago) - a bit disappointed to see it parked outside - not even started on it yet. Low staff due to sickness and holidays apparently. I'm glad my client is happily paying for a hire car for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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